MHF in talks with MSSM

20/11/2002

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) met Malaysian Schools Sports Council
(MSSM) officials recently but nothing concrete has come out of it just
yet.
Reason being that is was not the MHF Schoools Committee which met MSSM,
but the MHF top brass.
"It was a fruitful meeting in the sense that we discussed ways to
promote the game at the schools level, but we can't carry out any projects
just yet because it falls under the MHF Schools Committee," said MHF
secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
The Schools Committee, chaired by Datuk Jalil Abdul Majid, will first
have to identify its members because some of the State schools council
chairmen will be replaced at the end of the year.
"The Schools Committee will have to first identify its members, and we
can only do that in January when the MSSM appoints new State
representatives. After we hand them official appointment letters, work can
start," said Satgunam.
In a meeting held in July by the MSSM, a framework to chart the future
of hockey was put into place, and among the suggestions was for MHF and
State HAs to help MSSM financially.
The minutes of the meeting said the only way for MSSM to develop a sound
blueprint for the 2003-2005 term is if it receives money from the MHF to
start its programmes.
"A launching grant for the development of hockey must be set-up
immediately and money distributed to States when there is a need," read
the minutes of the meeting.
Other than money, MSSM also said it needed technical help from MHF to
run the show.
"In the meeting last week, it was suggested that we identify and promote
umpires who officiate at schools tournaments but it is almost an
impossible task because the umpires are not appointed by the MFH Umpires
Board but are recommended by the States.
"We will have to iron-out this techniccal glitch before we can start
promoting umpires at schools level," said Satgunam.
Meanwhile, Singapore has requested for several friendlies after Dec 13
with the national boys' under-18 team.
"We have agreed in principle to host Singapore and the matches will be
held after Hari Raya at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Singapore is keen to develop its youth and we are more than glad to help
them," said Satgunam.
With hockey out of next year's the Vietnam Sea Games, Singapore will
have to look for more regional friendlies to keep its youth busy.
(END)